'Definite' Goldtop specs?

[Lefty Adams]

I am looking for the right GT Les Paul, but am a little confused, (doesn't take much lol). I don't want a Studio, or Deluxe, or 60/70s tributes, as I don't consider these 'real' goldtops, so I am thinking a historic or reissue.

Can't afford the silly prices of the real 1956/57 things of course, who can.

So really, what's seen as the 'classic' goldtop? With the P-90s of 1956, or the burstbucker as in 1957? Or is that just the way Gibson released them back then? Or is it just whatever sound you prefer?

 

[marcarco]

To be fair, the 57 is far more widely recognized than the 56 as the iconic goldtop guitar. In the sound department, it really is a matter of preference. Don't let what the guitar looks like sway you all that much. A guitar that looks but doesn't sound good is frustrating. A guitar that sounds but doesn't look good is trend setting

 

[LauriPaul]

There's a lot of folks that say that a GT without P-90's isn't a Goldtop. I, in the other hand, totally prefer a GT with humbuckers but, that's preference. Buy what you think is the best for you not what people tell you to. But if you want my opinion I'd stick with humbuckers.

 

[michaelinokc]

To me GIBSON= HUMBUCKERS. Go with an R7. I love mine.

 

[slapshot]

i always think p90s whenever i see gold top
to the point of if i found a '57 in a dumpster i'd be pissed it didn't have P90s

but really it's whatever sound you're into

 

[sikoniko]

I like them both! And will eventually have both! I picked up the r7 first because it was cheaper. When the right deal comes around for an r6, it will be mine.

I really like the tone of p90s and love how well they respond to playing with tone control settings.

 

[Backstage]

A Goldtop without P90 is no real Goldtop .

Or is that just the way Gibson released them back then?

Yes, they release them this way. The Humbucker was fitted in '57, so Gibson call their reissue with Humbuckers R7 = 1957 (and so on - R8 = 1958)

 

[CRobbins]

I like them both! And will eventually have both! I picked up the r7 first because it was cheaper. When the right deal comes around for an r6, it will be mine.

I really like the tone of p90s and love how well they respond to playing with tone control settings.

I'm with you, I will own both one day. but right now I have an R7.

 

[tspoon5150]

An R7 all the way.

Now figure out what year is the best sounding.

You could always get a R6 later or maybe whatever deal is the best
for either one.

 

[Mike60]

...I got me a '69...had it restored...put a pair of '50's soaps in it...

 

[Lefty Elmo]

My Historic goldtop stated it's life as an R6, and I loved it soundwise, but the hum became a problem, so I broke down and hired a luthier to fill the routes and re-route for humbuckers. I have no regrets, except maybe not buying an R7 to begin with.

 

[not_lewis_either]

My eyes and heart say R7 - an iconic look.

But my head and ears say R6 - love the way those P90's clean up - you can turn the neck pickup down and thump the bottom string hard and it still retains a clear tone.

I've yet to find that on an R7 - I've had it on an R9 with Classic 57's uncovered - so I have an idea about my next purchase/project - just need to get over not liking the goldtop/uncovered pickup combination.

 

[major]

Perfect GT? CR4..........

Lovely P90s - a wraptail for HUGE sustain - and chambered good wood to come out under 7lbs....

And apparently, Gibson made one just like this for Mary Ford

 

[thork86]

To me GIBSON= HUMBUCKERS. Go with an R7. I love mine.

This! +1!

 

[Louie]

The "perfect" goldtop needs P90s and a wraptail, imo.

Even Gibson realized that they had messed up a perfect design by adding the ABR-1 bridge in '56 and humbuckers in '57, so much so that in '58 they had a meeting and said "Fvck it, let's just give it a pretty sunburst finish and be done with it".

 

[toymaker]

Only your ears can be the true judge of what fits you.

As far as the "classic" GT, you seem to have ruled out several fine options, because they aren't a 100% clone of a real 57. Keep in mind, custom shop historic's are not either, while they are great-they are no more a clone of a real 60 year old guitar than any other reproduction, and are modeled in the style of the vintage pieces.

Vintage sound comes with age and imperfection, these aren't made like they were in '57, ie when originally built, while certainly costly, builders didn't view what they were making as the absolute standard for the next 50 years and seek to eliminate every imperfection or variation..and of course we only remember the best of the lot. Point is, I wouldn't turn off anything until trying it..while 70s deluxes had their issues, there are some great ones...you wont see the peaks and valleys in a modern R6-R7, but you wont have a spot on '57 goldtop either.

 

[pop]

The "perfect" goldtop needs P90s and a wraptail, imo.

Even Gibson realized that they had messed up a perfect design by adding the ABR-1 bridge in '56 and humbuckers in '57, so much so that in '58 they had a meeting and said "Fvck it, let's just give it a pretty sunburst finish and be done with it".

I'm 100% with you! Don't rule out a R4 - P90s and wraptail are a godsend combination.


At the end there will be no way around playing the different models and going with the one which gives you the most mojo

 

[Lefty Adams]

Only your ears can be the true judge of what fits you.

As far as the "classic" GT, you seem to have ruled out several fine options, because they aren't a 100% clone of a real 57. Keep in mind, custom shop historic's are not either, while they are great-they are no more a clone of a real 60 year old guitar than any other reproduction, and are modeled in the style of the vintage pieces.

Vintage sound comes with age and imperfection, these aren't made like they were in '57, ie when originally built, while certainly costly, builders didn't view what they were making as the absolute standard for the next 50 years and seek to eliminate every imperfection or variation..and of course we only remember the best of the lot. Point is, I wouldn't turn off anything until trying it..while 70s deluxes had their issues, there are some great ones...you wont see the peaks and valleys in a modern R6-R7, but you wont have a spot on '57 goldtop either.

so what would you buy if you were going for a classic goldtop then? I don't class any of the 'tributes' or even the Standard GT a classic goldtop. Perhaps it is a case of trying them all, and deciding what I think is the suitable model to class as the 'classic' goldtop, I don't know.

 

[LPaddicted]

Perfect GT? CR4..........

Lovely P90s - a wraptail for HUGE sustain - and chambered good wood to come out under 7lbs....

And apparently, Gibson made one just like this for Mary Ford

 

[kmrumedy]

This is mine. No point giving the details as it is on the list of not being a representation of a real GT. Damn.......just when I thought the search was finally over!